1. they appeared to me denizens of a brilliant existence. (“the bass, the river, and sheila mant")

actors
environmentalists
deserters
inhabitants

2. failing that, i could have surreptitiously dumped the whole outfit overboard, written off the forty or so dollars as love’s tribute. (“the bass, the river, and sheila mant")

happily
slyly
enthusiastically
sorrowfully

3. but since he had called our names at the beginning of the service we were mollified. (from i know why the caged bird sings)

baffled
alerted
calmed
upset

4. we were maids and farmers, handymen and washerwomen, and anything higher that we aspired to was farcical and presumptuous. (from i know why the caged bird sings)

puzzling
too bold
silly
pitiful

5. the ugliness they left was palpable. (from i know why the caged bird sings)

able to be felt
strange
hurtful
imagined